Diversity Statement

Diversity Statement

Asbury Theological Seminary was founded with the focus of “The Whole Bible for the Whole World.” Within this focus, is a commitment to diversity as expressed in a biblical, orthodox, and Wesleyan manner that flows out of Asbury’s mission. Given that all persons are created in the image of God (Gen 1:26-27), the Seminary strives to be a community made up of women and men from every culture, ethnicity, and language who were at one time distinct peoples, but are now being formed into one people by the power of the Holy Spirit working in and among us. (See, for example, Acts 10:44-45, Gal 3:28, Eph 2:13-14, and 1 Peter 2:10.) The Holy Spirit unites us into one new humanity (Eph 2:15) in such a way where persons do not lose the particularities and dignities of ethnicity or gender in the process, but where we become, in Christ, a thicker unity that represents the Triune God (Jn 17: 21; Eph 4:1-6). The church of Jesus Christ is thus called to represent that visible eschatological hope of unity-in-diversity (Rev 7:9) in the face of cultural, racial, and ethnic division and hostility.

Asbury Theological Seminary, consistent with its Wesleyan heritage, mission, and ethos, affirms its commitment to cultural, racial, ethnic, gender, and socio-economic unity-in-diversity among our trustees, faculty, staff, students and administration. Those documents may be found here: Theological Orientation. That commitment will be seen in the following ways:

• Hiring practices and pay equity
• Admissions practices
• Worship practices
• Class materials
• Opportunities for dialogue (both formal and informal) about matters of Biblical justice, diversity, and unity
• In our leadership